Dear thepublicblogger, why did you follow my blog?

  Posted on by Kendall Fredrick Person

  1,009 Comments

Dear thepublicblogger, why did you follow my blog?

dear thepublicblogger

Dear thepublicblogger: First I want to thank you for following my blog. I could be cynical and say maybe you just did it, so that I would follow yours, but hopefully that is not the case. I am one to always believe the best about people first so I’m going to remain optimistic (although, I am glad to follow yours, because I am enjoying it quite a bit). –  cynical optimist

Dear cynical optimist:  I do not think you are being cynical in the least by inquiring the reasons for my joining your community. Cynicism would come into play if you did not ask. ‘Following’ is a common term used throughout social media, but here, we are neighbors. The cynic would be partially correct, but, in this case, a real cynic would not have obtained a season pass. The cynic would have judged my performance at the door, and never read a single post.  Several neighbors and visitors alike have inquired as to why I would follow them, and one very talented blogger, The Curse of Future Tom (2013 mid-season nominee Best Comedy Post/Blog) even wrote a hilarious piece (I hope he was being funny) ‘There’s Some Kind of Blogsphere in Here‘ wondering if I was up to something by following him. A very valid question and you are not alone in being a curious mind.

With a population of 65,000,000, if WordPress were a country, it would be the 22nd largest in the world, wedged right between  the United Kingdom (63,700,000) and France (65,700,000). It is a fascinating, international community, that enables all to build a platform to showcase their talents and/or to have a voice. I enjoy my trips around the WordPress world. The sites, sounds, stories, rants and raves I encounter from my desktop our priceless.

It is my vision that The Neighborhood become an international destination for entertainment, for discussion, for discovery, for intrigue and most importantly, for peace. Developing, designing and building the type of all-inclusive atmosphere, takes planning, promoting, imagination, intensity and sincerity.  But all of those things become moot, without  people to share in this journey, that unveils itself a little each day.

I learn of new communities, by visiting my neighbors’ communities. WordPress is brilliant in its simplicity of meeting new friends. Simply ‘Liking’ a post or ‘commenting’ on a platform, or ‘following’ another blogger, your Gravatar  or Hovercard serves as your ‘I was here signature’ linking back, from wherever you are, to your blog, making meeting new friends as easy as a ‘touch or click’. Freshly Pressed is an in-house promotional device, if you will, where ever changing categories of blogs and posts, appear, running the gamut from ‘Drawing’ to ‘Inspiration’ from ‘Startups’ to ‘Blogging’ with hundreds of stops in between. And the prominence of WordPress bloggers can be felt throughout the world wide web, as it is not uncommon  to read a headline at another online community or media source, clicking the link to follow the story, and finding it has led you to a WordPress blog.

Cyberspace, where billions have established homes, is made up of hundreds of micro communities.  Many people establish residence at one location and maintain ties to several more. WordPress is my home location, but with so many friends, family members, and early supporters at Facebook, I maintain smaller accommodations there, as well as SoundCloud, Twitter and GooglePlus, which are still  relatively new communities to me. I try to demonstrate respect by contributing to the atmosphere at each location, in a give and take. I fall short, but my intentions are good. Many times, I am outfoxed by the number of hours in a day. But at WordPress, my home base, my online resident location, being a good neighbor does not just solve fair, it is the very foundation, in which The Neighborhood is built.

I have visited, read, listened to and commented on thousands of posts from thousands of WordPress bloggers. I cross share works from different communities, and during the blogger awards season, dedicate myself to finding, visiting and reviewing hundreds of new blogs, as well as, blogs that I have bookmarked. In an effort to expand the consideration pool for the 2014 Thepublicblogger Awards,  judging criteria was established, including opening up the process to bloggers outside of WordPress, and international judging panels, and a popular vote via online poll, were installed. Utilizing this platform, the neighborhood has supported causes such as stopping bullying (BULLY) and supporting homeless Veterans and those suffering from ptsd (The Hypocrisy of War), and I am proud to do so, and humbled that my voice can be heard.

Why do I follow you? And you? And you? at WordPress, at Twitter and SoundCloud? Why do I find  ‘Friends’  at Facebook and Goodreads? Why do I make ‘Connections’ at LinkedIn, add ‘Acquaintances’ at GooglePlus, feed to Bloglovin and Tumblr and post at Reddit?

As a marketer, (the cynic will say I told you so) following is a tool used in promotions and attracting new visitors, as well as, introducing thepublicblogger.com to potential new neighbors and friends, Similar to most (if not all) performance artists, I revel in producing a sold-out show. As an author, blogger & writer, It allows me to introduce readers to my novels, series and other works I post.  As a volunteer promoter, it provides a larger audience for the incredible talent  I discover and share within a post. As a purveyor of peace, it brings the world together in a discussion of civility and respect. And as a visionary, I can see The Neighborhood as a destination, bustling with visitors, bursting with neighbors, teeming with life. But the number of followers is a false indicator for reaching set goals, and while a tool, it serves no purpose if the production falls below par and respect for community takes a nosedive. Smoke and mirrors may serve as an initial attraction, but it is beauty, and heart, and soul, and sharing, and caring, and believing, and understanding, and honesty and integrity and creativity and doubt and prayer and you that enables The Neighborhood to grow.

As of August 20, 2013, The Neighborhood has a population of 18,218 {updated: April 24, 2016: 84,678} and I am honored and proud to welcome everyone one of you. But there are so many you out there, that we have yet to meet.

No worries, we know you are there. And on July 4, eleven players will begin a quest to find you. And a voting audience, will eliminate those that don’t (big smile)

 

We know you are out there 

 Category: society, think      Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1,009 Comments on “Dear thepublicblogger, why did you follow my blog?”

  2. Hi Kendall, thank you for following my blog. Although I probably wouldn’t have asked the question, I would have wanted to know the answer – and here it is! Eloquent, candid and expressive. I hope you will continue to enjoy my posts, I will certainly continue to enjoy yours. And thanks again for these priceless words of advice. Ana, x

    Like

  3. I really enjoyed reading your post. As someone who is new to the community, I am looking forward to learning from those who have more experience. I almost couldn’t find where to post my comment on your blog. lol. Thank you for checking out my blog and I look forward reading further posts from you..

    Like

  4. Hello, Kendall.
    Carefully read all of your declarations, and have a concern about something you declared: ‘… find intrigue, and work for peace’ …
    For you, how do these two concepts, “intrigue,” and “peace” link up?

    How ever in this webosphere did you find me? Just published my first ever two blogs in my life! Thank you for this honor.

    Hello everyone,

    Thank you for your most warm welcome. It’s going to take me awhile. Each one of you is fascinating, too!!

    Best Always,

    Victoria

    ***********************

    Like

  5. When I read my email and saw the link to this post, I just had to read it. Thank you for following me. As a beginner, it makes me feel encouraged to continue blogging. Since I’m just about 1 month old in WordPress, I’m still about to figure out how to follow you. Lol. Once I had it figured out, you’ll know 🙂 (Though I’m kind of hoping you could help me out too ^^)

    Thanks!

    Like

    • I would love to. At the top of each page is the word follow. Just clicked that and new posts will run in your Reader. Or, to assure you do not miss a post, click the seasonticket tab on the right hand column and input your email and each post will be delivered right to you. Thank you for visiting, reading and adding your voice to this forum. You are appreciated and welcome to the neighborhood.

      Like

  7. Thank You for taking the time to appreciate so many talents! I am Honored to have you follow my blog, but I know by following yours, I can appreciate the Neighborhood of bloggers that we are, If I cant know my actual neighbors? let me at least know my Blog neighbors!

    Like

  9. Hey, I want to thank you for two things: first, following my blog, but second and more importantly, for a very well-written and evocative piece. This is some quality work, and it really invokes some rather pretty imagery (of an interconnected world and so forth) for me. Keep up the excellent work sir.

    Like

  10. Thanks for stopping by and following my new blog. The support is greatly appreciated, as I’m just learning my way in the blogosphere!

    Like

  11. Pingback: the knowledge bowl: Dear thepublicblogger, why did you follow my blog? | Temas/Themes

  12. Dear. Republic blogger, your comments on my little blog amazes me. Not the comments per se but the fact that you actually took time to read some of my un crafty nutty writting, so is well appreciate. Somebody out there, and specially someone like you with so much more `street cred´when it get´s to writing would actually take a couple of minutes from their busy day and stop my my blog. So thank you
    Why do we follow your blog? Are you nuts…come on, all post are thoughtfully well written interesting topics that I personally take away from them a lot of useful tools and ideas for my own writing my personal grow as a writer and as a person too. It´s fascinating this social media thing, 65 million people in wordpress…yeah we are a community, people with shared interests and we don´t even see each other. Don´t even know the people who are reading me and I feel good to see I have one more follower or one more comment, or like, at least I know that someone is reading. So again, when you pass by, and with all you´ve got going I understand I can´t expect you to read all my things but for you to leave even a small comment it is very rewarding. I really mean that.
    Stay frosty my friend.

    Like

  13. This was great. I am glad I stumbled onto this post and read it first. It definitely cleared up my questions as to why you followed me!

    Like

  15. Thanks a bunch for stopping by and following my blog too! I feel so happy to think you welcomed me too to the neighborhood! ;w; I hope I can write many good posts like yours so I can also give my five cents to help the people who stop by in my blog, just like you with The Neighborhood! That would be my best token of gratitude :3

    Like

  16. Thanks a lot for encouraging me here. I should have joined word press earlier.

    Like

  20. All I can say is…thanks for welcoming me to the community. It feels a little bit like I am a newbie at university and it’s nice to make friends! Please come back and visit my pictures any time, I know I’ll enjoy reading your words again.

    Like

  21. Hi, I’m part-cynic so I’ll say wow you followed me and 16k more others ugh. But I’m also part-happy person and that part says ‘thank you for following me! I’ll go ahead and follow back now!’

    Really, I support the neighborhood hype, even if it’s just a marketing tool or whatnot, it works anyway. And it led me here. So many possible friends and followers and other blogs to read. So exciting! 😀 P.S. I tell whole truths, whenever I can.

    Maeren x

    Like

  22. Love your views on the community of WordPress. I am a marketer, myself, (and new media specialist), so I’ve known the value of blogs for my clients, but could never get into it, personally, because I didn’t think anyone would care about what I had to say. However, with such a big community, I have found the odds are that SOME people will enjoy my writing and vice-versa, I learn things from other bloggers and enjoy the fellowship we have.

    Like

    • So glad you are enjoying the knowledge bowl and i am equally glad that you have added your voice to the forum. it is my belief that the greater wisdom is found in the body combined with the discussion. welcome to the neighborhood. so glad you are here.

      Like

  24. Well, you have followed my blog and now i shall follow yours. Not because I’m into tit for tat in all cases but because your blog looks interesting. It seems to be about everything. Life, the universe and everything. I like that.

    Like

  25. I totally enjoyed this article. People who write are in a unique “family”. I am happy to have you as a neighbor and follower. Pull up a chair anytime at ‘Swatting Locust’!

    Like

  26. Thank you for following my blog 🙂 I must say I am always happy someone else has read my stories, I can be cynical myself but I feel at least someone has looked at my story and hopefully enjoyed it. When I read this blog, I can see exactly where you are coming from and I think it is great. I am glad to be part of a neighborhood and definitely see the benefits of it and it also gives me a chance to see others work (of which I have greatly enjoyed) and gives me the ability to meet new, wonderful and talented people.

    Like

  27. How cool that you refer to this as “The Neighborhood.” I’m new to the blogosphere and somewhat intimidated, but you make it seem up close and personal. Thanks for following my blog and introducing me to your world. I love your take on words, too.

    Like

    • Judy – The Neighborhood may have come from inside my head but it thrives only because the neighbors believe in the concept, in its ideas and in its international theme of peace. Thank you for adding your voice to this forum for there is no doubt that you are needed here. Welcome to the neighborhood.

      Like

  28. Thank-you for following on ~Just Thinking~ .. I am enjoying “the knowledge bowl” and I will return to finish enjoying it…an explore more shortly!
    I just wanted to take a minute to say thanks… and God bless!

    Like

  30. Thanks for following me and welcoming me to the neighborhood. I hope you enjoy my posts, just getting start so I should work all the kinks out soon.

    Like

  32. I’m just wondering how do you manage to keep up with all the different social media sites? I currently run two blogs (one wordpress, one tumblr whom I still haven’t quite figured out the purpose as there is hardly an exchange), two websites as well as various other ‘s&m’ tools like Facebook, Etsy, Pinterest, Twitter (oh forget Twitter, I don’t even know anymore what’s going on there, it’s all automated) etc etc.
    On 2nd thought, the reference to s&m seems to be quite accurate, seeing that often social media is dominating our free time and we become suckers of cyberspace, when life is clearly taking place elsewhere.
    Do I sound like a cynic? Well at least I bothered to read through the post 🙂

    Like

    • By no means are you a cynic or being cynical. Cyberspace becomes an intrusion if the glass if half empty but an outlet when half full. And either way you look at it, all of those micro-communities can become overwhelming so it is up to you to find that ones that you enjoy and that enjoy you. Thank you for adding your voice and welcome to the neighborhood. So glad you are here.

      Like

  33. It was my pleasure spending time here. I like your point of view about the blogging community.
    Thanks so much for the follow.

    Like

  34. Hey, Kendall, thanks for stopping, becoming a neighbor, and inviting me into your neighborhood! My blog “Echoes” is a brand new adventure — I have been a musical performer in the past, so I completely relate to your theory of writing as performance art…I was feeling creatively stymied, so I thought I’d return to writing…and, yes, writing is definitely another performance outlet… 🙂 Peace and cheers to you!

    Like

  35. Saw that you followed my blog and decided to check yours out. the sharing of thoughts and ideas and positivity is what made me click follow. I want to give, receive and experience as much positivity, love and encouragement as I can in this life.

    I recently really learned to love myself and want to be involved with others who love themselves enough to share their abundance.

    Like

  36. I was considering if I should follow you or not then saw your tagline ‘Where writing is a performance art and every post is a show’. I’m In! I look forward to taking some time to read your previous posts.

    Like

    • I like the fact that it took some consideration and i love the fact that you chose to become a part of the neighborhood. You are so appreciated. Enjoy yourself while here and come back as often as you like. You are appreciated.

      Like

  37. Thanks for following me and this is a good blog on how to market oneself with all available technological tools, but also a reminder that our first marketing tool is the self/ our own personality.

    Like

  39. Much like the cynical optimist above I was a bit bemused as to why you would choose to follow my blog. There didn’t seem to be any link between my blog and your own. However, upon reading this piece, which I’m glad I did, I feel honoured that you’ve chosen to give my work a look. It’s shown me that there doesn’t really have to be any link between other people’s work just an appreciation for what other people are doing and achieving.

    I’m glad to be part of the neighborhood.

    Like

  40. You certainly are a great writer. I feel encouraged and convinced all at the same time. I am a believer in communities of all kinds. I have lacked courage and purpose in blogging, often mixing the point with private journaling and/or being cocky. You have inspired!

    Like

  41. Namaste to someone who speaks of beauty and truth, peace and community, creativity and imagiNation – and what a ‘nation’ that is! Thank you for your ‘follow’!

    Like

  42. I came to your neighbourhood out of curiosity and appreciation that you had chosen to follow my blog. I’m staying out of interest and a pleasure in engaging. I thank you.

    Like

  43. My favourite line from this captivatingly written piece: “Simply ‘Liking’ a post or ‘commenting’ on a platform, or ‘following’ another blogger, your Gravatar or Hovercard serves as your ‘I was here signature’ linking back, from where ever you are, to your blog, making meeting new friends as easy as a ‘touch or click'”. Couldn’t agree more.

    Like

  44. “Smoke and mirrors may serve as an initial attraction, but it is beauty, and heart, and soul, and sharing, and caring, and believing, and understanding, and honesty and integrity and creativity…” They say it all.
    Thank you for making me read this!

    Like

  47. I can’t put into words how much I love this. Thankyou for this post, it’s fantastic. It’s so ‘every possible point of view’ and ‘every possible reason.’ ❤ love. love.

    Like

    • You are such a source of inspiration. So many times we take granted how someone else might feel or what they might need. You found happiness in what I have written and you returned the favor by bringing sunshine in your words to me. You are appreciated and welcome to the neighborhood. So glad you made it.

      Like

      • i didn’t mean anything especially occult, nor nocturnal for that matter (i just threw THAT in, seemed like fun, un-fettered, like the pattern of rain down a window). Okay: your presentation here. your blog. this site. it’s like i was dropped off in a multi-level perhaps multi-dyementschunull shopping mall. maul? no, a place, not a chopping. shopping, eh… but i’ll figure my way around, or enjoy the “lost” while trying.

        Like

  49. Through support I gave the Tucson Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America I entered relationship with a spy. He knew scientists and academics had just sprung the World Wide Web from DARPA, a defense project. Marti was not an early adopter, but he had a vision: knowing full well the carnage planned in war games, he thought a tool that allowed folks to build community … across time zones, language barriers, and long-held cultural differences … could do much to knit humanity together, and make us all less susceptible to propaganda (which he knew to be effective and in full force). Before the term ‘online community’ had been coined, he was confident that it would be more difficult for Powers That Be to make antagonists out of people who, based on common interests, had cultivated meaningful relationships over the long term.

    He was thinking of you, who brought me here by means of a well crafted, deliberate invitation to wage peace.

    Like

    • Bob – It is a beautiful thing when a new neighbor makes them self at home and visits nearly every thing. Only one o’clock in the morning where I call home, but you have guaranteed a smile on my face for the remainder of the day. A pleasure for me to be a part of your community, as well. Presenting a photograph with each post and then telling the story with words enables a reader to really share the moment and become a part of your special world. Thank you for adding your voice and thank you for becoming a part of the neighborhood. You are needed here.

      Like

      • From a person such as your good self, your words have served to both encourage, and to motivate me to want to achieve more from my blog.
        So glad to have made this link.

        Like

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